The Function of Propellers
The propeller is the device that drives your RC plane. You actually can choose from a variety of styles and sizes for your plane. The theoretical distance traveled by your propeller is known as the pitch. The greater the pitch, the greater the velocity of your plane. Of course, more power is required for a greater pitch so you must be sure that your engine can supply sufficient force.
Propeller Materials
Propellers originally were all made of wood. They were inexpensive and actually today, in 2011, many model fliers still prefer wood. You also can buy propellers made of various types of compounds, including the very strong carbon fiber, although these are more expensive. If you are a real RC airplane fanatic who wants a variable pitch propeller, you will have to accept that they are not made of wood.
Wooden Propellers
The very first wood propellers actually were hand carved. Today they are produced and machined in a factory. Machinery in 2011 is set and controlled by a computer, and once it is programed it can produce large amounts of the piece for which it has been programmed.